Glauber: Washington still has strong feelings for Jets
A serviceable Jets running back for four seasons, Leon Washington also will play against his former team. Credit: AP
Leon Washington is in Seattle these days, but it doesn't take much to figure out his heart is still in New York.
The former Jets running back/kick returner, who suffered a gruesome leg injury last season and was traded to the Seahawks during April's draft, said Wednesday he misses his former team.
"I miss those guys on the Jets, and miss everything about New York," said Washington, who leads the Seahawks with 19 kickoff returns for 640 yards and two touchdowns. "There's quite a bunch of friends back there and so much support. I spent four years of my life there, so quite naturally, I miss it."
If it were up to Washington, he'd still be with a Jets team that has made no bones about its chances of reaching the Super Bowl. And if the Seahawks hadn't stepped in on the second day of the draft, Washington would still be a Jet. But the Seahawks obtained Washington and a seventh-round pick for their fifth-rounder, which the Jets used to select Kentucky fullback John Conner.
The Jets parted with Washington because they selected USC running back/returner Joe McKnight in the fourth round. But while Washington has recaptured the form that made him one of the league's best kick returners, McKnight barely has contributed.
Sure, Washington misses his old team. His old team misses Washington, too.
"I love all the guys on that [Jets] team," Washington said. "I love a lot of the coaches on the staff, and I had a tremendous four years there. Much respect there. I know they have a good window of getting to the Super Bowl, and I kind of missed that."
Don't get Washington wrong. He's very appreciative of the opportunity to play football again. And who knew if that day would come. After Washington had his right leg shattered in an Oct. 25, 2009 game against the Raiders, it appeared his career might be over. Even the Jets doubted Washington would ever be the same
Washington had no such doubts.
"A couple of months after the injury, I was moving around on the bike, and getting the hydro works and all that running in the water," he said. "I had a lot of help along the way, especially from my wife, and with my work ethic, faith and the ability that God has blessed me with, I didn't have any doubt."
On Sept. 26 at Qwest Field in Seattle, that self-assurance was reflected in Washington's finest moment in an NFL game. He had kickoff return touchdowns of 99 and 101 yards to help the Seahawks rally to beat the Chargers, 27-20.
"It was something incredible for my kids to read," he said. "Dad broke his leg, and so many people think that's an injury you can't come back from, especially at my position. So it's something they can use as motivation to never give up, always face adversity and fight through it. It also showed how well I'm blessed and how hard I fight as an individual."
It's that kind of attitude that made Washington one of the favorites in the Jets' locker room. In fact, he still remains popular with his former team.
"Especially from the aspect that he was a good friend, it's tough to see a guy like that go," tight end Dustin Keller said. "Leon's just a real positive guy and he brought a lot of energy to the team . . . It's really a brotherhood in here, and he's definitely one of those guys."
Had he agreed to a long-term contract extension the Jets offered last year, he probably still would be one of those guys. But Washington insists he didn't make a mistake by agreeing only to a one-year contract.
"I would do the same exact thing," he said. "The contract I had on the table, people don't know the details, but I'd do the same thing. Go out there and play football."
Too bad for Washington he's now 3,000 miles from his initial NFL home. Sounds like he'd rather be here than there.
